Gordon Brown has pledged to forge a “global new deal” with Barack Obama when he meets the new US President for talks in Washington.

The Prime Minister said the two countries’ historic “partnership of purpose” should be directed at fighting the downturn as well as terrorism, poverty and disease.

Mr Brown, who will be the first European leader to meet with Mr Obama since he came to office, said: “I believe there is no challenge so great or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by America, Britain and the world working together.

“That is why President Obama and I will discuss this week a global new deal, whose impact can stretch from the villages of Africa to reforming the financial institutions of London and New York – and giving security to the hard-working families in every country.”

It would require all continents to make cash injections to boost economies, all countries to adopt green policies, universal banking reforms and changes to international bodies, he suggested.

Amid fears that the new US president may downgrade the importance of the “special relationship” between the two nations, Mr Brown stressed his fondness for America in an article in the Sunday Times.

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“I have always been an Atlanticist and a great admirer of the American spirit of enterprise and national purpose. I have visited America many times and have many friends there, and as Prime Minister I want to do more to strengthen even further our relationship with America.”

He quoted Winston Churchill, one of the handful of British leaders to have addressed both Houses of Congress – a list Mr Brown will be added to this week.